The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to maintain the public records of this District and to make such records available to residents of Michigan for inspection and reproduction.

The public records of this District include any writing or other means of recording or retaining meaningful content prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the District, its Board, officers, or employees, subject to certain exemptions according to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Any person may make a written request for any public records of the District. The person may inspect, copy, or receive copies of the public record requested. The District shall respond to such requests within five (5) working days after receipt unless otherwise agreed to in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.

An individual may purchase copies of the District's public records upon payment of a fee. No original public record may be removed from the office in which it is maintained except by a Board officer or employee in the course of the performance of his/her duties. Neither the Board nor its employees shall permit the release of the social security number of an employee, student, or other individual except as authorized by law (see Policy 8350 and AG 8350).

The Board authorizes the Superintendent to provide, upon written request, enhanced (i.e., immediate) access to any public record which the District has stored in an electronic database and is not confidential or exempt from disclosure by State or Federal statute. Such a record may be provided by means of a computer disk provided by the requestor, electronic mail, or a modem providing the requestor has paid the fee established for such transmission.

The Board has determined that personal and confidential information provided to and retained by the District on parents, students, staff and others will be considered exempt from disclosure pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request, unless advised specifically by the District's legal counsel that the particular information must be released. Such personal and confidential information shall include home addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses or website pages (e.g. My Space, Facebook), except as they are specifically related to the operation of the schools, or specifically authorized for release by the individual, or the parent/guardian if the individual is a minor.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed as preventing a Board member from inspecting in the performance of his/her official duties any record of this District, except student records and certain portions of personnel records.

The Superintendent is authorized to dispose of correspondence on a daily basis including those transmitted by means of voice mail or E-mail, providing the message does not alter existing District records.

The Superintendent is responsible for transmission of data contained in the single record student data base established by the Michigan Department of Education. Such transmission shall be in accordance with procedures established by the Van Buren Intermediate School District and the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI).

The Superintendent shall establish administrative guidelines to ensure proper compliance with the intent of this policy and the Freedom of Information Act.

South Haven Public Schools

554 Green St., South Haven, MI 49090

Phone 269-637-0500 | Fax

South Haven Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in admission to its programs, services, or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals, or in any aspect of their operations. The lack of English language skills shall not be a barrier to admission or participation in the district’s activities and programs. South Haven Public Schools also does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.